radiator vs baseboard

M Hoyt

Was wondering which heats better. I have radiators thru out my house but we are redoing my dining room, we have a radiator that is 3'6" wide by 2' high. Its on a wall 15'wide and on the far left part on of that wall. there are two windows one on each end of the same wall. If i go with 15' of baseboard will that make up for the one radiator.

Thanks
Mike
Garfield NJ

M Hoyt

baseboard vs radiator

Was wondering which heats better. I have radiators thru out my house but we are redoing my dining room, we have a radiator that is 3'6" wide by 2' high. Its on a wall 15'wide and on the far left part on of that wall. there are two windows one on each end of the same wall. If i go with 15' of baseboard will that make up for the one radiator. If it matters i have a hot water system.

Thanks
Mike
Garfield NJ

Steamhead

Keep the radiator

not only does baseboard get cold very fast when the system shuts down, but that short length of baseboard almost certainly won't equal the heat emitting power of the radiator. For comfort and efficiency, keep the cast-iron radiator.

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Mike T., Swampeast MO

They both do a good job of heating, but in VERY different ways and with VERY different requirements.

Iron radiators continue to give off heat LONG after the boiler has stopped firing--fin baseboard stops almost immediately. That problem alone makes it very difficult to balance the two in the same system.

Iron radiators and baseboard have different characteristics when the supply temperature drops away from the "standard" 180°. Depending on how your system was sized, is controlled and any insulation you've added, it's quite possible that your system never approaches 180°--even on the coldest days. Baseboard output drops off faster than falling supply temperature while cast iron stays fairly flat. If you properly size the new baseboard to work with the actual supply temp available in the coldest weather, you'll still have some problem as the weather gets warmer--your "balance" will not hold.

To avoid comfort problems and/or extensive and expensive piping and control changes, I'd try my best to keep the existing radiator. If you must replace with baseboard, use cast iron--not fin tube.